Selectively operated rotary drum file



Nov. 17, 1953 c, ATTWQQD 2,659,646

SELECTIVELY OPERATED ROTARY DRUM FILE Filed Sept. 29, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet l CHARLES E. ATTWOOD BY 70%. a es mend ATTORNEYS Nov. 17, 1953 c; ATTWOQD 2,659,646

v SELECTIVELY OPERATED ROTARY DRUM FILE Filed Sept. 29, 1950 GSheets-Sheet 2 CHARLES E. ATTWOOD Sea maul, ,4 7 mm ATTORNEYS 17, 1953 c. E. ATTWOOD SELECTIVELY OPERATED ROTARY DRUM FILE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 29. 1950 ENTOR.

CHARLES E. ATTWOOD Nov. 17, 1953 c. E. ATTWOOD SELECTIVELY OPERATED ROTARY DRUM FILE Filed Sept. 29. 1950 6 Shegts-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

CHAMES E. A TTWOOD o esmmdjpaldrw A TORNEYS G I F Nov. 17, 1953 c. E. ATTWOOD 2,659,646

SELECTIVELY OPERATED ROTARY DRUM FILE Filed Se t. 29, 1950 6 sheets sheet 5 FIG.9.

[2 FIG. 12. 28 30 IN V EN TOR.

CHARLES E. ATTWOOD M, @u'mmd, pa/Jam H ATT'ORNBG c. E. ATTWOOD 2,659,646

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Nov. 17, 1953 SELECTIVELY OPERATED ROTARY DRUM FILE Filed Sept. 29. 1950 Patented Nov. 17, 1953 ATENT OFFICE SELECTIVELY OPERATED ROTARY DRUM FILE Charles E. Attwood, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Acme Visible Records, 11:10., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application September 29, 1950, Serial No. 187,523

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in visible index equipment and refers particularly to a rotary drum-type visible index device wherein a plurality of index card-carrying trays are carried by a rotary drum, the drum being controllably movable to render a predetermined tray available for use at an operating station.

One of the important features of the present invention resides in an index card-carrying device which is so constructed as to include a maximum number of index cards in a minimum of space and yet render all of said cards readily available for reference or otherwise at an operating station.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the speed at which a predetermined card of a relatively large number of cards in an index system may be made available to an operator with the expenditure of minimum eifort by the operator.

A further important feature of the invention resides in a device of the class described which is compact, positively operating, economically constructed and rugged, and'can be conveniently operated and economically maintained.

Briefly described, the invention'comprises a housing carrying a rotary drum provided with a plurality of tray-holding cavities in which card-carrying trays may be positioned, with selective pushbutton means for rotating the drum to bring a selected tray to an operating station, automatic means being contemplated for rotating the drum in one direction or the other so as to cause the drum to rotate through the smaller angle of rotation in bringing the selected tray to the operating station.

Other objects, advantages and important features of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and following detailed description.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the index device comprising the concepts of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view illustrating particularly the drive for the rotary drum.

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view taken on line l4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a slightly enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on lined-ii of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is adetailed sectional view taken on line 1 1,of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed elevational view illustrating tray-carrying partitions mounted upon the rotary drum.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view of mounting means for a tray upon a drum peripheral ring.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line H-|| of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12-42 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a detailed sectional view taken on line I3|3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14. is a detailed perspective view of a tray retainer clip employed in the device.

Fig. 15 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical circuit employed in the device.

Referring in detail to the drawings, I indicates generally the housing for the rotary drum index comprising the embodiments of the present invention. The housing I comprises a lower cover member 2 and an upper or hood member 3. The cover member 2 and hood member 3 are preferably constructed of relative thin metal such as sheet steel or the like and the members may be secured together at their line of juncture by crimping the adjacent edges, as indicated at 4 in Fig. 2. The cover member 2 is supported upon base 5 which comprises a substantially rectangular frame constructed of angle irons or other suitable structural members.

The housing I is closed at its top, back and opposite sides, but its front portion, at which an operators station 6 is located is provided with openings 7 and 8, the former being provided for access to the card-carrying trays and the latter being provided for access to the mechanism, principally the drive mechanism 9 confned in the housing. The opening 8 is provided with a removable closure Ii! and is normally closed. The front portion of the housing carries an extension H which carries a work platform 12 upon which the operator may conveniently perform necessary functions incident to use of the device.

A frame is carried by the base 5 within the housing and comprises vertical frame members 53 and Hi, being the rear and front vertical frame members, respectively, and side frame members i5 and i5 disposed adjacent and inwardly from the side walls of the housing. The frame members I3, I i, I 5 and it are preferably of box section, but may take any other conventional structural form. Transverse frame members El and it may join the opposite side frame members together to form a rigid frame structure.

A bearing is is mounted upon side frame it and a similar bearing 28 is mounted upon the opposite frame it, the bearings being secured to the respective frame members by means of screws 2| or the like. The bearings it and 25 are in alignment with each other and are positioned substantiall centrally within the housing. A shaft 22 is journaled in the opposite bearings, said shaft carrying in spaced relation three notched wheels 23, one being disposed adjacent and inwardly from each bearing and the third being disposed centrally upon shaft 22 between the outer wheels.

The three wheels are identical and each is provided with a plurality of adjacent notches 24 which are spaced from each other throughout the periphery of the wheel, the notches having their axes disposed at an angle to radii of the wheel. The projected axe of all adjacent notches make equal angles with each other, that is, they are all inclined at the same angle to the circumference, or more strictly speaking, they make anges with a tangent to the circumference at the point of intersection of a respective notch axis with the circumference. In addition, the notches on all of the wheels are disposed at the same inclination relative to a predetermined direction of rotation of shaft 22, that is, the only notches whose axis project outwardly from the wheels toward the operating station are contained in the second quadrant of said wheels. as viewed in Fig.2. lhe purpose of this arrangement will be hereinafter more fully described.

A bracket 25 (Fig. .5) is mounted adjacent each end of the shaft 22 upon side frames and it, respectively, and each bracket carries a stub shaft 26 (Fig. 11). A ball bearing assembly 21 i rotatably carried by each stub shaft 26, the inner race of each bearing and shaft 28 bein secured to bracket by means of nut 28. The outer face of each bearing 2? carries a circular cam plate 29 having a tapered outer surface 393. It will benoted that the stub shafts 2E and cam plates as are mounted above shaft 22 and are offset from said shaft toward the operating station is. The cam plates are also dis osed respectively ad acent the outer surfaces of the endmost wheels 23.

A ring 3! (Figs. 2. 5 and 10) is concentrically disposed with respect to shaft 22 in radial alignment with the outer surfaces of each of the endmost wheels 23 and a plurality of partit on plates 32 and emanate from the notches 24 in w eels 23 and extend to the ring 3i. Each partition plate 33 comprises a fiat anel portion 35 having upturned lateral edges each adjacent its inner end being provided with a slot 36. At its outer end each partition plate (-33 carr'es a bead 3'! which receives a rod 33 carrying threads at each end. A threaded sleeve 39 extends through an aperture is provided in ring 3! whereby the outer portions of the partitions are secured to the rings 3 l.

Adjacent partition plate 33 and disposed alternately with respect to partition plates 33 are partition plates 32. Each partition plate 32 has a. flat panel portion ll having upturned opposite lateral flanges 12 which are provided adjacent their inner ends with slot at. At their outer ends (not shown) the partition plates 32 are secured to the rings M in the same fashion as has completely closed side walls.

4 been described in conjunction with partition plates 33.

Partition plates 32 at their inner ends are ofiset downwardly, as at 34 in Fig. 13 and then inwardly parallel to the panel ill, as shown best at 45. Both the inner end of the panel 34 of a partition plate 33 and the inner end of a partition plate 32 are disposed in a single notch 25 of each of the wheels 23. A fastener or clip 45 embraces the end edges of each pair of members 34 and 45 in a notch 2 and the assembly thus formed is secured rigidly in said notch by pressing, brazing, welding or the like. A resilient bumper 41 is disposed adjacent the ofiset portion M, and a similar bumper 38 is positioned adjacent an ofiset portion of each clip it.

Each of the lateral flanges 35 and 42 taper outwardly toward rings 3i whereby a drum is formed having inwardly extending partitions and It will be noted that the partitions extend non-radially with respect to wheels 23 and rings 35, said partitions being disposed along progressive secant lines traversin the peripheries of wheels 23. In other words, the partitions follow the direction of the axes of the notches 24.

The space between adjacent partitions 32 and 33 is open at its outer end between rings 3| and a tray lt is adapted to be slidably disposed in each of said spaces. Each tray comprises a flat panel portion 56 with inturned edges 5!. A central rib 52 is car ied by each tray and also is provided with inwardly turned edges 53, the arrangement being such that the inturned edges 5| and 53 define channels for the reception of conventional index card hangers (not shown) for carrying a plurality of index cards 54 in overlapping relationship upon each tray, two sets of such cards being carried by each tray.

The inner ends of each tray is bent upon itself to provide a shoulder 55, which when the tray is inserted to the inner end of each partition space is in alignment with a slot 35 or 3 provided in the lateral flanges 35 and 32, respectively, of partitions 33 and 32. A resilient arm 56 is secured by rivets 5? or the like to each opposite partition flange 35, each of said arms terminating in a resilient cam follower finger 553 which, at a predetermined period of rotation of the drum bears upon cam plate 29. A latch member 59 is carried by each arm 56 adjacent a notch 35, said latch member having two arms 66 which embrace arm El; and rigidly hold the latch upon the supporting arm. A lug ti is carried by each latch member 59 and is adapted to normally extend into a slot G3 in flange d2 of partition plate 32, and offset from said lug 5i and on the opposite side of the latch member 59, a lug 52 is carried which normally extends into a slot 36 in flange 35 of a partition plate 33.

By the normal position of arm 56 is meant the position occupied by said arm when its follower 58 does not ride on cam plate 29. when the arms 56 are in normal posit on each of the lugs 5! and 62 of the latch members carried on said arms extend inwardly through notches t3 and 36 respectively and in this position the lugs engage the shoulders 55 upon the trays carried by the partitions and prevent outward movement of said trays.

Each of the trays ll! carries a front wall 63 which provides an outer closure for the space between adjacent partitions and a handle 64 is mounted upon each of the front walls 53. As will be hereinafter described, the handles 54, col- Accordingly,

lectively around the surface of the drum form a bearing surface for a driving belt for rotating the drum.

For driving the drum, a flexible endless belt 65 is wrapped around a portion of the drum, the belt bearing upon the handles 64. The belt 65 is trained around guide roll 66 journaled adjacent the front portion of the housing I; around drive rolls 6? and 68 in the lower front portion of the housing; around guide roll 69 at the lower rear portion of the housing; and around adjustable guide roll H1 at the upper rear portion of the housing. Between guide roll 66 and adjustable guide roll 16, the belt wraps around the drum.

An electric motor in association with a suitable conventional speed reducer are both shown diagrammatically at H in Fig. 2. Output shaft 12 carries a sprocket wheel 13 over which a sprocket'chain' I4 is trained, said chain also bein trained around sprocket wheel 15 mounted upon shaft 16. A spur gear T! is also mounted upon shaft 16 and meshes with a spur gear 18 mounted upon shaft 19. Drive roll 6'! is mounted upon shaft 16 and drive roll 68 is mounted upon shaft 1'9 whereby both of these rolls are driven to move belt 65. An electromagnetic brake 80, associated with the driving mechanism by shaft BI is positioned adjacent motor 1|. The operation of the driving mechanism including the brake will be hereinafter more fully described.

At the front of the housing I upon the work platform l2 at the operators station 3 pushbuttons 82, 83 and 84 are positioned. In addition,

a selector mechanism 85 is disposed at the operators station whereby the operator may conveniently select a desired tray upon the drum. The pushbutton 82 is a conventional on and off switch which connects the entire mechanism or disconnects the entire mechanism from a suitable source of electric current. The pushbutton 83 manipulates a normally closed momentary contact switch and is employed as a stop switch for stopping the operation of the mechanism manually. The pushbutton 84 operates a normally open momentary contact switch which is employed to initiate movement of the drum by momentarily closing the switch associated therewith. The complete electrical circuit will be described in detail more fully hereinafter.

The operation of the mechanism described hereinbefore is as follows:

To commence operations the pushbutton switch 82 is manipulatedto connect the mecha nism to a suitable source of electric current. After the mechanism has been so connected the selector, to be hereinafter more fully described, is manipulated to select a desired tray among those carried by the drum. The pushbutton 84, after the selection has been made upon the selector 85, is manipulated and the drum commences rotation by means of the driving mechanism 9. The arrangement is such that when the selected tray upon the drum moves to a position opposite opening I in the housing the drum automatically stops, the brake 80 assisting in instantaneously stopping the movement of the drum at a desired point in its rotation as determined by the selector mechanism.

As has been hereinbefore described, the normal position of the arms 56 is such as to have the lugs 6| and 62 carried by each arm so positioned as to engage the shoulders 55 upon the respective trays carried by the drum. As the drum rotates, however, the cam follower arms 58 carried by the partition plates 33 periodically move into contact with the cam plates 29. This operation causes the cam follower arms to move upon the inclined surfaces of the cam plates 29 thereby flexing the arms 56 and causing the lugs BI and 52 to become disengaged from the shoulders 55 of the trays associated with the partition plates in question. The cam plates 29 are so positioned with respect to the rotation of the drum that as trays approach the operators station 6 the follower arms 58 ride upon the cam plate 29 and consequently only those trays which are adjacent the operators station are free to be withdrawn from the spaces between the partition plates. The remaining trays are locked in place by the normal position of the arms 56.

Accordingly, it can readily be seen that the trays are selectively locked and unlocked between the partition plates. Hence, only those trays adjacent the operators station can be removed from the partition plates and the remaining trays carried by the drum cannot be displaced from their confined position. In view of the fact that the belt 65 wraps around a portion of the lower periphery of the drum, said belt also assists in holding the trays in positions between the partitions particularly at the lower portion of travel of the drum. However, by virtue of the latches including the engagement of the lugs 6| and 62 with the shoulders 55 of the trays, double assurance is had that trays will not be displaced during rotation of the drum and only those trays Winch are available to the operator are remova. le.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 5 and 8 the adjustable guide roll 16 is carried upon a shaft 86 which in turn is journaled at each of its ends in bearings 91. A threaded shaft 89 is rotatably positioned transversely through a rear frame member I! and each shaft projects downwardly through a vertical frame member 89. The inner sides, that is the sides facing each other, of the frame members 89 are provided with elongated openings 90 and the threaded rods 69 engage with the bearings 8'! which project through the openings 90. Hand wheels 9| are carried at the upper ends of the shafts 88 and consequently by the manipulation of the hand wheels 9| bearings 8'! and hence roll 19 may be raised or lowered along the length of the threaded shafts 88. In this fashion a desired degree of tension may be applied to the belt 65.

A sprocket wheel 92 is rigidly mounted upon shaft 22 exteriorly of bearing l9. A sprocket chain 93 is trained around the sprocket wheel 92 and is driven thereby, said chain being trained also around sprocket wheel 94 carried upon shaft 95 of the selector mechanism 85 (Fig. 6). A brush holding block 96 is mounted upon sprocket wheel 94 by means of screws 91 or the like, said block being provided with an aperture 98 in which an electrically conductive brush 99 is positioned. A coil spring I06 is also positioned in the aperture 98 and functions to resiliently urge the brush radially outwardly. The sprocket wheel 94 together with the block 96 are carried by sleeve I91 which is freely rotatable upon shaft 95.

The arrangement is such that when shaft 22 rotates sprocket wheel 9:3 also rotates in timed relationship therewith, being driven from sprocket wheel 92 by chain 93. In addition, block 96 rotates with sprocket wheel 94 in order that the brush 99 shall make desired contact to be hereinafter more fully described.

A second sleeve I02 is loosely mounted upon acsaew shaft 95, said sleeve carrying a hub I03- which in turn carries atv its outer periphery an insulating cylinder I00. The insulating cylinder I04 pro jects outwardly from the hub I03 and exteriorly of said hub said cylinder carries a coaxial ring I05 upon its inner surface, the ring I05 being constructed of electrically conductive material. The ring I05 is provided with a slot disposed parallel to shaft 95 and in said slot an insulating segment I06 is positioned. The ring I05 is adapted to make contact with the end of brush 99 and during rotation of the sprocket wheel 96 and block 96 the extending end of brush 99 makes contact with the metallic ring I05 and periodically comes into contact with the insulating segment I06. The width of the segment I96 is such with respect to the width of the brush 99 that the brush when contacting the segment cannot bridge the segment and make contact between the abutting ends of the ring IN.

I The ring I05 is also provided with a transverse insulating segment I91, thereby dividing the ring I05 into two sections I98 and I09 which are electrically insulated from each other by the segments I05 and III'I.

A selector drum IIIi is mounted upon the insulating cylinder Iilt and carries an annular rec-- essed peripheral portion I I I in which a calibrated strip H2 may be positioned. The strip I52 may be provided with transverse calibrations corresponding in number to the number of trays car ried by the main drum, the calibrations upon the strip being related to each other circumferentially upon the selector drum in precisely the same manner as the trays are circumferentiallyrelated to each other upon the tray-carrying drum.

A brush holder H3 is carried by a portion IIII of the machine frame, said brush holder being constructed of insulating material and being provided with two recesses [I5 and H6. Abrush I I? ispositioned in recess I I5 and is urged outward- 1y by means of a coil spring H3 also positioned in the recess. Similarly a brush H9 is carried in recess I I6 and is urged outwardly by means of coil spring I also carried in recess IIE. Electrical conductors I2I and IE2 respectively connect with brushes Ill and H9. On the outer surface of the projecting portion of the insulating cylinder IM- a pair of spaced siip rings I23 and I23 are carried, said slip rings being constructed of electrically conductive material and being so disposed as to be contacted respectivelyby brushes II? and H9. The operation of the selector mechanism 35 will be hereinafter more fully described.

Strip I23 is electrically connected to section its by means of metallic rivet I25 and slip ring I24 is electrically connected to section I08 by metallic rivet I25. in Fig. '15 the arrangement comprising the ring 1% and the slip rings I23 is showndiagrammatically, the diagrammatic member A comprising a segment I23 and a segment 22's elec controlled by pushbutton 93, to conductor I30. Switch I 33 is of the momentary contact type, that is, manipulation of pushbutton 83 functions to open switch I33 as long asthe operator continues to push the button 83. Conductors I32 and I36 supply current to motor II through a reversing circuit indicated generally at I35.

Conductor I leads directly to motor "II whereas conductor I32 connects with common wires ISIS andl It? of relays I38 and I39. Relay I38 comprises relay coil 14!} which controls a pair of series contacts Il which are normally open, said contacts, when closed connecting lead I277, and hence line I32 to conductor U52, which in turn supplies current to motor 'II. Relay I39 comprises a coil I43 which controls a pair of series contacts I44 which are also normally open and which, if closed, connects line I32 to conductor M5, also connected to motor II. Motor II is of the reversing type which energization through conductors I34 and I 12 rotates it in one direction and energization through conductors I34 and I45 rotates it in the opposite direction.

One end of relay coil Hill is connected by conductor I45 to brush I I? and one end of coil I43 is connected to brush H0. The opposite ends of said coils are connected to the common conductor Il, which, in turn, is connected by lead hit to the secondary coil N0 of a step-down transformer-I50. The opposite side of secondary coil M59 is connected by conductor Iia'i-to leads I52 and I53. Conductor I52 connects through switch I5 3 to lead I55, which, in turn, connects through series switches I55, I5? and I58 to ground I30.

Switch I5 is a normaliy open switch and may be closed momentarily by depressing pushbutton 8 3. Switches I55, I51 and IE8 are normally closed microswitches and are employed as safety switches in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described. Lead I53 connects through series con tacts ISI of relay I62 to conductor I83 which, in turn, connects with conductor I55, and, hence, through switches I56, I53 and IE3 to ground I61 Coil I85 of relay I62 connects at one end to line, I34 and at the opposite end to conductor 5-35 which may connect through either series contact I65 of relay I39 to the line I32 or through series contacts It! to line I32. The primary winding I38 of transformer I is connected across lines I32 and I35, and solenoid I69 for releasing brake 39. connects across lines I32 and I35 by conductors I75 and HI and I through either or" the series contacts I 58 or IE1. Brush is connected to ground I'IZ-through conductor I73.

In the operation of the device the switch ItI is turned on which fact is indicated by pilot light I'M connected across line I32 and I35, switch I33, as described, being normally closed. The device is then ready for operation. The indicator drum H0 is then rotated to bring a desired calibration on the strip IIZ opposite a predetermined index mark (not shown) at the operators station. Rotation of the drum I III brings the insulating segment I06 of ring IfiE at a predetermined angular position with respect to brush 5% and in contact with an electrically conductive portion of ring I05, unless the tray selected by the operator is already at the operators station in which case brush 99 will already be in contact with segment I06.

After a selection has been made by appropriately positioning selector drum I5 3, pushbutton 84. is. depressed, momentarily closing switch I-Sr'i and closing the, following circuit: from secondary coil I59 to lines Island, I52; through normally closed switches I55, I51 and I58 to ground I60;

section I99 of ring I55, that is, the section in contact with the slip ring I23 (I23' diagrammatically shown in Fig. 15); through slip ring I23 to brush III thence through conductor I45 to coil Hill of relay I35 and thence returning to the opposite side of secondary coil I 39. Coil I'll) of relay I38 is therefore energized and the normally open contacts I6? are closed thereby energizing brake solenoid I69 and releasing the brake B0. The normally open contacts I lI are closed by coil lit and hence motor II is energized through wires I34 and I 42. The motor will then turn in a predetermined direction.

Of course, when switch I54 is momentarily closed, relay coil I64 of relay I62 is actuated by current passing through line I34, coil Its, line I65, closed contacts Itl, wire I36 and I32. Contact points IBI of relay I62 are closed thereby completin the circuit from secondary coil I59, line I53, contacts ItI, line Hit and closed switches I56, I51 and I58 to ground Itt. In other words this circuit comprises a holding circuit for completing the motor circuit after switch I54 returns to its normal open position.

The tray-carrying drum rotates thereby rotating brush 99. When brush 99 encounters the insulating segment Ifit (Illii' diagrammatically in Fig. 15) the circuit to coil I 39 is broken. The contacts MI and I5! of relay I38 open thereby I deenergizing motor II and permitting the application of the brake 86. Brake 85 is normally applied and is released by solenoid IE9 and only so long as said solenoid is energized. V

The operation has hereinbefore been described in circumstances where the selected tray and, hence, brush 99 contacted section I65 of ring Hi5. If the tray selected, however, required the selector drum I It to be so moved as to position brush 99 in contact with section I58 or ring 5635 the mtor would rotate in the opposite direction. For example, with a selection made which results in brush 99 contacting section Iilt the following operation would take place.

With the drum selector I I properly positioned pushbutton 8d may be momentarily depressed thereby momentarily closing switch ltd. The circuit is then completed from the secondary coil I49 of transformer I59 through conductors I5I and I52; through closed switch it, conductor I55 and through the normally closed switches I56, I5? and I58 to ground I55; fromground I12 to brush 99, which, by virtue of the selection made, is now in contact with section I08 of the ring I55. The circuit will be completed through Section I08 to its connecting slip ring I24 (shown diagrammatically in Fig. 15 as I22) to brush II9 and thence to solenoid coil I43 of relay I39 and thence back to the secondary coil I49 by means of conductor M8.

By energizing coil I 53 the normally open contacts I44 are closed and hence the circuit to the motor II is completed through line ltd, the motor lead I45, closed contact points IM, the common wire I3! and the opposite line I32. It will be noted that the motor is now energized through Wires I34 and I65 and hence will revolve in the opposite direction from the previous case wherein the motor was energized from wires I3? and I42. Of course, when solenoid I43 is energized contact points I56 are also closed and hence the brake release solenoid I59 is energized thereby releasing brake BI! and permitting free rotation of the motor and drum to take place. It is to be understood, or course, that the holding relay I52 also goes into operation, as has been hereinbefore described, to maintain the circuit in closed condition after the momentary switch I54 opens.

It can readily be seen that the greatest degree of rotation of the tray carrying drum is 180 in on direction or the other depending upon which section HIS or 5% of ring 35 is in contact with brush 35 by the appropriate selection upon the selector 85. Hence, the tray selected will be brought to the operators station and stopped there when brush 9?! contacts the segment I95 in a minimum of time.

As an additional feature of the invention after the selection has been made and pushbutton has been depressed and the motor is in operation tending to move the selected tray' to the operators station, the operator may find that an error was made in the selection. If such is the case pushbutton 83 may be depressed which breaks the circuit of line I3 3. Hence the motor may be stopped, the contacts Itl of the holding relay 32 will be opened and the solenoid I69 will be deenergizecl and th entire operation will be halted and all of the circuits will be cleared for a new selection. By this arrangement it is unnecessary for a selection once made to proceed to the end or" its cycle before a new selection can be made since a predetermined selection can be interrupted in any phase of its cycle by depressing pushbutton 83 and momentarily opening switch I33. Another manner in which a selection previouslymade may be interrupted and a new selection made is by merely rotating the selector drum III.) during the selection cycle. This operation, of course repositions the brush 59 relative to the ring Hi5 and thereby imposes a new selection upon the circuits.

After the selection has been made and the drum has stopped with the desired tray at the operators station, the selected tray can be readily removed by the operator by conveniently grasping the handle 5d of the selected tray and sliding the tray outwardly from between the partitions. As has been hereinbefore described a predetermined number of trays at the operators station are released by virtue of the fact that the cam follower arm 55 carried by a partition 33 has moved onto an elevated portion of the cam plate 29. At the operators station 5 adjacent the openmg I a portion of the hood 3 is bent inwardly to form opposite inwardly extending walls I15 (Figs. 2 and 4). The walls Il'5 are indented, as at lit to provide opposite tracks which become wider as they approach the upper portion of the walls, as shown best at Ill in Fig. 2. A closure I78 having rollers I79 adjacent its corners is adapted to move upwardly and downwardly adjacent opening I, rollers I19 being guided by tracks lit. The closure lid is constructed of a ferromagnetic material, preferably-sheet steel, and a permanent magnet ISE is mounted at the upper portion of the track I'll whereby closure I78 when raised to its extreme upward. position is retained in such position by the attractiv force of the magnet. The force of the magnet, of course, can be readily overcome manually by the operator in lowering the closure when the device is not in use.

A ledge I8I is carried at the lower edge of the opening I, said ledge extending inwardly in cantilever fashion. A normally closed micro-switch I53 i positioned beneath the inwardly extending portion of the ledge in such relationship that if the ledge is depressed the switch will be actuated thereby to momentarily open the holding circuit of relay [8-2. Th opening of this switch will interrupt a cycle of operation and will clear all circuits and permit the application of brake 89.

The purpose of this arrangement is to prevent counterclockwise movement, as viewed in Fig. 2, of the tray-carrying drum when a tray is being operated upon at the operators station, that is, when the tray is partially removed from the drum, or when a tray at the operators station has not been completely inserted between the partitions. Were the selector 85 moved and were push button 84 depressed inadvertently or otherwise the extending tray would contact the ledge 18! and open switch I55. All motion of the parts would then cease and the brake would be applied preventing injury to the parts or possibly preventing injury to the operator. In addition, when the closure H8 is lowered, its lower edge will contact ledge l8! and thus prevent operation of the device when the closure is in lowered position.

A panel I82, having opposite extending ears I83 (Fig. 4) is disposed across the upper portion of opening the opposite ears 183 being positioned in slots 18 provided in the opposite walls '15. The panel m2 has limited movement upwardly and downwardly by play provided in slots 28d, and said panel is normally in its lowermost position. A micro-switch I5! is positioned above panel E82 and is momentarily opened by contact with the panel when said panel is moved upwardly. Opening of switch lfi'l, as has been hereinbefore described, opens the holding circuit of relay I62 with the result of halting an operation intermediate a cycle.

By this provision a, tray which extends outwardly from the tray carrying drum at the operators station and brought into contact with the lower edge of panel I82 during clockwise movement of the drum (Fig. 2) will open switch thereby stopping the drum and applying the brake before any damage is done.

As an example of the electrical equipment employed in one embodiment of the present invention, not by way of limitation, however, the following apparatus was employed: With a 110 volt alternating current supply, transformer I58 comprised a stepdown transformer having a voltage output at the secondary coil I59 of 12 volts; relay coils and M3 were 12 volt coils and coil I64 was a 110 volt coil; brake release solenoid operated at 110 volts and motor H comprises a horsepower, single phase 1550/52 revolution per minute gear motor of the reversing type. To prevent undue arcing at the contacts MI and set upon opening, a capacitor [85 is connected across leads [t2 and I45, the capacitor I85 for the arrangement described above being a 20 microfarad oil filled capacitor.

It can readily be seen that herein is contemplated an index device of the rotary drum type which by the expenditure of a minimum efiort and time on the part of the operator places selectively at the disposal of the operator one of a relatively large number of index card-carrying trays, the time of the operator being conserved by those operating features of the device wherein (1) the tray-carrying drum revolves through a minimum angle, in one direction or the other, in bringing the selected tray to the operators station, (2) a selection cycle maybe interrupted by a stop switch at any phase of the cycle and a new selection cycle imposed upon the device, or in the alternative, during a selection cycle, the selector may be manipulated to change the selection without first rendering the device inoperative. Of course, the principles of the present invention may be employed to accomplish an end other than the rendering of index cards available at an operators station, that is, other objects or data-bearing documents may be selectively made available to an operator by employing modifications which will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A rotary record card-carrying device comprising in combination, a housing having an operators station, a rotary drum journaled for rotation in said housing with a portion of its periphery disposed adjacent said operators station, a plurality of record card-carrying trays mounted upon said rotary drum, said trays being disposed at an angle to the periphery of the drum and being movable outwardly from the periphery of said drum, handles upon said trays at the periphery of the drum, and means for rotating said rotary drum to bring a predetermined tray adjacent said operators station whereby said tray may be moved by said operator to a position rendering the record cards carried by said tray accessible, said means comprising a flexible endless driving belt which wraps about a predetermined angle of the periphery of the drum and contacts the handles of predetermined of said trays.

2. A rotary record card-carrying device comprising in combination, a housing having an operators station, a shaft carried by said housing, a plurality of notched wheels carried by said shaft, partitions carried by said notched wheels in the notches thereof and extending at an angle to the radial relative to said shaft providing a plurality of compartments having a plurality of open mouths which extend circumferentially about and are spaced from said shaft, means for rotating said shaft to rotate said notched wheels and partitions, the mouths of saidcompartrnents moving adjacent said operators station during rotation of said shaft, a record card-carrying tray slidably disposed in each compartment in a direction parallel to said partitions, a tray in a compartment adjacent said operators station being removable from said compartment and said housing.

3. A rotary record card-carrying device C0111- prising in combination, a housing having an opening adjacent an operator-s station, a drum journaled in said housing the periphery of which is disposed adjacent said opening, electrical means for rotating said drum, a plurality of record-carrying trays carried by said drum and removable therefrom at an angle inclined to the radial, and normally closed switch means disposed adjacent said opening for completing the circuit to said electrical rotating -rneans, switch means being in the path of travel of a tray partially removed from the drum through said opening whereby rotation of said drum causes said partially withdrawn tray to contact and open said switch means.

4. A rotary record card-carrying device comprising in combination a housing having an operatcrs station, a rotary drum journaled for rotation in said housing with a portion-of its periphery disposed adjacent said operators station-partitions carried by said drum disposed in spaced relationship to each other and at an angle to the radial, record card-carrying trays positioned on said partitions, means carried by said partitions for removably locking said trays on said partitions, a cam positioned upon said housing adjacent the axis of rotation of said rotary drum and eccentric with respect thereto on the side adjacent the operators station, said cam being disposedin the path of travel of said locking means during rotation of said drum to contact "locking means carried by predetermined partitions to unlock the trays carried by said predetermined partitions to permit their removal from said partitions at the operators station.

5. A rotary record card-carrying device comprising in combination, a housing having an operators station, a drum journaled for rotation in said housing with a portion of its periphery disposed adjacent said operators station, a plurality of record card-carrying trays mounted upon said drum, electrical means for rotating said drum, preselector means for controlling the angular degree of rotation of said drum to move a predetermined tray to the operators station. said preselector means comprising a rotary electrical contact member, an electrical conducting ring in contact with said contact member when said drum rotates, an insulating segment interposed in said ring, a selector cylinder rigidly secured to said ring, a tray index carried by said cylinder whereby to preset said ring to dispose said segment at a predetermined angular relationship with respect to said contact member, means for rotating said contact member in timed relationship with said drum, and means for electrically connecting said electrical rotating means to a source of electrical current through said contact member and said ring whereby rotation of said contact member into contact with said segment stops rotation of said drum and disposes a predetermined tray at the operators station.

6. A rotary record card-carrying device comprising in combination, a housing having an operators station, a drum journaled for .rotation in said housing with a portion of its periphery disposed adjacent said operators station, a plurality of record card-carrying trays mounted upon said drum, electrical means for rotating said drum, preselector means for controlling the angular degree and direction of rotation of said drum to move a predetermined tray to the operators station, said preselector means comprising a rotary electrical contact member, an electrical conducting ring in contact with said contact member when said drum rotates, substantially diametrically opposite insulating segments interposed in said ring to separate the ring electrically into two ring sections, means connecting each ring section to a source of electrical current of opposite polarity, a selector cylinder positioned at said operators station, said cylinder being rigidly connected to said ring sections, a tray index carried by said cylinder whereby movement of said cylinder to a predetermined tray indication upon said index presets said ring sections to dispose one of said segments at a predetermined angular relationship with respect to said contact member, means for rotating said contact member in timed relationship with said drum, and means for connecting said electrical rotating means to a source of electrical current through said contact member and one of said ring sections whereby rotation of said contact member in a predetermined direction into contact with said last-mentioned segment stops rotation of said drum and disposes said preselected tray at the operator's station.

CHARLES E. ATTWOOD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 959,943 Jones May 10, 1910 1,195,291 Stubbers Aug. 22, 1916 1,651,852 Trenor Dec. 6, 1927 1, 98,592 Davis a Mar. 31, 1931 2,418,357 Knittel Apr. 1, 1947 2,480,445 Bruen Aug. 30, 1949 2,504,629 Bertello a Apr. 18, 1950 OTHER REFERENCES Ser. No. 317,991, Bertello (A. P. Q). published Apr. 2'7, 1943. 

